A significant minority of patients and staff have been unhappy with the rapid shift to technology-based consultations, according to a new study. A Health Foundation study found that 33% of staff feel that new ways of providing care have reduced quality. Amongst NHS users, 42% said quality of care had been worse and this increased…

Introduction As GPs and primary care teams, we’re on a journey. We started in single primary care organisations, we’ve entered into collaboration with others in the Primary Care Networks, and we’re en route to becoming vital members of wider Integrated Care Systems. Whilst the individual patient in front of us will always be our priority,…

Practices need more mental health specialists, both for patients and for staff, according to senior Scottish GPs. The proposal headlines manifesto launched by the Royal College of GPs for the elections to the Scottish parliament in May. The college reported big concerns among GPs about the increase in mental health problems since the beginning of…

Primary care staff from ethnic backgrounds feel less involved in decision-making and less respected than others, according to a ground-breaking survey of a city in Yorkshire. Many ethnic minority staff in Doncaster also report being victims of bullying or harassment or sometimes of physical violence, according to the survey, reported by the Health Service Journal.…

Group consultations could be a way of easing the significant work burden for GPs and nurses in primary care teams, a new study has suggested. Research led by Keele University explored group consultations, which are a relatively new concept in UK primary care, to see if they could future proof the sector and reduce workload…

With all the talk of vaccine success, falling case rates and a roadmap to normality, you could be forgiven for thinking the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel is shining bright. However, for those in primary care, this ‘end’ of the pandemic is likely to usher in another wave of pressures – pent…

Tired of lockdown and all things COVID? Yeah, me too. During the first lockdown, everyone was baking bread, cleaning out their garages and doing daily workout videos, and bragging about it on Facebook. This wasn’t for general practice though. In the latest lockdown, it’s been freezing cold and the kids have been eating you out…